Ah, yes, smooth out your newspaper report, and have another look at it! She _did_ rest her head on my shoulder, poor soul, and she _did_ say, 'Oh, Amelius, I thought my heart was turned to stone; feel how you have made it beat!' When I remembered what she had told me in the boat, I declare to God I almost burst out crying myself--it was so innocent and so pitiful." Rufus held out his hand with true American cordiality.

"I do assure you, sir, I meant no harm," he said.

"The right grit is in you, and no mistake--and there goes the newspaper!" He rolled up the slip, and flung it overboard.
Mr.Hethcote nodded his entire approval of this proceeding.

Amelius went on with his story.
"I'm near the end now," he said.

"If I had known it would have taken so long to tell--never mind! We got out of the wood at last, Mr.Rufus; and left it without a suspicion that we had been watched.